Comic Book Review: Daredevil #99

Last issue of Daredevil was a solid read. The Revolution enjoys this title, but this current story arc continues to be the weakest story that we have gotten from Brubaker since he took over this title. Hopefully, Brubaker can get me a bit more excited about this story arc with Daredevil #99. Let’s do this review.

Creative Team
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Penciler: Michael Lark
Inker: Stefano Gaudiano

Art Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
Story Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10

Synopsis: We begin with Matt, Foggy and Becky visiting Melvin Potter, the Gladiator, in an insane asylum. Evidently, the recent events made Melvin catatonic. Matt tells Foggy and Becky that someone purposely did this to Melvin.

Two cops then approach Matt and tell him how five cold blooded murders were committed in Hell’s Kitchen last night. That they thought Matt would like to know what is happening to his people if he still cares.

We cut to Matt and Foggy back at their law office. Matt is getting into his Daredevil costume. Foggy urges Matt to stay in since he is in no shape to go out and fight. Matt says that he is angry about what is going on and that all the blood and death on the streets are all connected. Matt swings off and Foggy goes and checks in on Dakota and Lilly. Dakota is doing some computer research into Lilly’s case so Foggy and Lilly go to the kitchen to talk. Dakota tells Lilly not to seduce Foggy.

Lilly and Foggy are talking in the kitchen when Milla walks in and yells that Lilly isn’t supposed to be anywhere near this office. Milla starts crying and tells Foggy that she isn’t okay and that she wants her husband.

We shift to Daredevil beating the crap out of all the local thugs trying to get information on the person who behind the recent crime wave. We see Daredevil beating up Chico and Merv and asking them who they work for. They claim to be just the deliverymen. That they are spreading some drug that makes criminals feel invulnerable and without fear. Daredevil tells them to tell him where their boss is.

We cut back to Milla telling Foggy that she feels like she can’t find her feet. That she feels like she is still falling. We see Dakota telling Lilly that her computer research has turned up a possible link on Lilly’s case. Foggy enters the room and tells the ladies that he is taking Milla home. Lilly tells Foggy that she will come with him.

We zip back to Daredevil arriving at the location that Chico and Merv told him that their boss would be located. Daredevil smashes through the window and enters the building. Suddenly, there is gas all around Daredevil. Daredevil drops to his knees and we see Ox and some other thugs appear behind Daredevil.

We hop back to Foggy, Lilly and Milla in the subway waiting on the platform for the next train. Milla angrily tells Foggy and Lilly that she doesn’t need an escort. Milla yells at Lilly that Lilly’s tricks won’t work on Matt. That Milla knows that Lilly is up to something. Lilly protests that she has no plans or desires for Matt. Milla yells that Lilly is lying.

We zip back to Ox beating the crap out of Daredevil. We then cut to the office where Dakota is talking to Becky. Dakota says that she just discovered a link between Vanessa Fisk Becky’s attorney friend Gus. Vanessa wired a lot of money to the same guy that was one of Gus’ most frequent phone calls from his office: Larry Cranston.

We then cut to Ox holding up a beaten Daredevil. Mister Fear walks up to Daredevil and says that it has been a long time. Daredevil is stunned that Larry is the one behind the recent crime wave. Mister Fear comments that Daredevil doesn’t even know the half of what he has done.

We hop back to the subway station where Lilly is telling Milla that she isn’t trying to harm either Milla or Matt. Foggy then gets a call on his cell from Dakota. While Dakota is telling Foggy about the connection with Cranston, we see Milla scream “Just die, bitch!” at Lilly. Milla pushes Lilly toward the oncoming subway train. Lilly bumps into a man standing next to the edge of the platform and the man falls off the platform and gets killed by the subway train.

Foggy runs over and Milla is on her knees crying “What did I do?” The crowd all yells that Milla tried to kill Lilly and pushed Lilly into the man that died. Foggy asks Milla what has she just done? Milla mumbles that he doesn’t’ know what is wrong with herself.

We cut back to Mister Fear in front of Daredevil. Mister Fear asks Daredevil if he already mentioned that he knows Daredevil’s wife. End of issue.

Comments
The Good: Damn, that Brubaker! He had lulled me into a false sense of security with several issues that moved at a very measured and controlled pace. Then Brubaker unleashed Daredevil #99 that had one seriously jaw dropping and exciting ending. Daredevil #99 was a great read. This issue is a wonderful example of the incredible way that Brubaker can develop in such an organic fashion.

Brubaker gives us a perfect blend of drama and action in Daredevil #99. Brubaker knows how to craft a tightly plotted story arc that is complex and detailed and is able to let it unfold in such a pleasant natural and measured pace. Brubaker is successful at building tension in the reader as the story comes to a dramatic crescendo at the end. The quick scene cuts between the three different scenes at the end helped to increase the tension in this story.

Brubaker serves up his usual excellent dialogue. Each and every character is richly developed and that lends to the incredibly realistic feel that Brubaker gives his stories. Of course, that isn’t to say that Brubaker ignores action scenes. We get several ass-kicking scenes by Daredevil as he searches for the criminal mastermind behind the recent crime surge.

I’m digging this little thing brewing between Foggy and Lilly. Is there a chance that Lilly is going to seduce Matt’s best friend? This certainly would provide for a rather awkward situation between Foggy and Matt.

Brubaker drops a one fucking incredible ending on the reader! We have Milla trying to kill Lily and, instead, accidently killing some innocent bystander. And at the same time, we have the dramatic revelation of Mister Fear aka Larry Cranston as the criminal mastermind behind the recent crime wave. And to top it all off, we have Daredevil helpless and beaten and in the clutches of Mister Fear who then ominously mentions that he knows Milla.

The immediate question is if Mister Fear has somehow place Milla under some form of mind control to get her to kill off Lilly. Especially since there is some connection between Becky’s friend Gus and Mister Fear. Brubaker is doing a great job and taking all these different little plotlines and weaving them into one complex web. I’m definitely excited to read the next issue of Daredevil to see what Brubaker has in store for us.

Lark and Gaudiano provide for plenty of their usually solid artwork. They give Daredevil its gritty and realistic look that is the perfect complement to Brubaker’s style of writing.

The Bad: I have no complaints with this issue.

Overall: Daredevil #99 is another excellent read. Brubaker certainly can write urban super heroes better like no one else. If you still haven’t given Daredevil a try then definitely do so. This title has a good combination of strong writing with excellent dialogue and character development as well as bone crushing action that will make it appeal to a wide array of comic book readers.